Ethan appeared in front of me, wearing that infuriating expression.
I clenched my fists, fighting the urge to lunge at him and pummel his face.
"Yo, Klo… your tears are beautiful."
"Shut up."
I rose from the ground where I had been kneeling, forcing myself to stand and face Ethan, who was radiating arrogance.
"Why did you summon me?"
He shrugged, dismissing my words.
"No, I didn't summon you. The truth is, you lost your chances. And now, you're dead."
I grabbed him by the collar of his green shirt, yanking him close.
"Don't be ridiculous. If I were really dead, I wouldn't be feeling this agony. Who's going to prove that the girls are fine without me? Who's going to make sure they're safe?"
I released him, and he stepped back, waving his hand casually.
"The truth is… they're not fine. They're grieving over your lost life."
Ethan snapped his fingers twice, a sharp crack.
"So, how about this: a bitter truth, or a sweet piece of advice?"
"I want neither."
I rejected him, but he ignored my refusal.
"Nope. Then you'll live through a bitter truth—reliving familiar memories of those you love… and those you don't."
The surroundings shifted into a place I knew all too well… it looked just like my old room.
I stood far away, like nothing more than a spectator.
I saw myself rising from bed, moving to the computer, opening the editor where I used to write my novel.
I stepped toward my old desk—it brought back heavy memories.
I stood there, staring at myself writing, my expression grim.
I waved in front of his face, but of course, he didn't react.
"He won't move. You're a ghost after all."
"I… I know."
I turned to the door, opening it to check on my parents.
I went downstairs to the living room—and it was wrecked.
Empty liquor bottles and cigarette butts scattered everywhere.
Clothes thrown around, on the couch, even hanging from the doors.
My father was collapsed on the floor, drool dripping from his mouth.
My mother was stealing money from his jacket, stuffing it away so she could waste it on her own pleasures.
Damn it.
I sat down on the filthy couch, facing the old, tiny TV.
Ethan followed me, still wearing that grin.
"Does this stir up nostalgia for you, Klo?"
"I hate this."
He chuckled and slapped my back lightly.
"You really are fascinating."
My eyes burned as if fire itself had taken root in them.
I kept staring at my parents until my mother whispered to herself, making my eyes widen.
"I'm sorry, Ethan… sorry for the life you've had to live."
I narrowed my eyes again, certain her words were nothing but lies. I returned to my seat.
Then my father woke up from his stupor and saw her rifling through his jacket. He walked over and struck her across the face. She screamed, collapsing to the floor.
A familiar scene.
I stood up from the couch and returned to my room, where my younger self was pounding the desk with clenched fists.
"I feel you… me," I whispered, biting down on my lip.
Ethan snapped his fingers again, and the setting shifted—this time into Elithia's memories, as far as I could tell.
She looked so young, childlike. I watched her practicing sword swings with a wooden stick until Klo Youthenir stepped forward and started bullying her.
He looked so smug, haha.
"Elithia, you always dream of becoming a Maiden of the Blade or a Lady of the Flaming Sword… but you're weak, you idiot."
He snatched the wooden sword from her hands and snapped it in two.
"Here, take this."
She fell to her knees, crying.
I just stared at the scene—Klo Youthenir was truly awful.
The scene shifted again. This time, it was Nevin's memory.
She sat inside a palace, specifically in a king's den. Before her stood a man with violet hair, wearing a crown.
His face was twisted with anger, as if he were staring at a demon—though he himself was one.
Young Nevin kept her head lowered, staring at her trembling fingers.
"Silence, weakling. You are a disgrace to our kingdom. All you're good at is flattery and deceit."
She clutched at her skirt, gritting her teeth, her tear-filled eyes shining with humiliation.
I looked over at Ethan.
"Next is Lynette."
We entered Lynette's memories—and they were desolate.
She was sitting beside Andrew, in front of the ruins of a village identical to hers.
Silver hair, eyes as blue as star dust.
Her face was pale, distant, like she wasn't even part of this world anymore.
Andrew held her hand gently, brushing off the ash and dust clinging to her.
She didn't show any emotion, only gazing blankly at the ruins with lifeless eyes.
So… we've all lived through something awful.
"And now, the surprise—Luna!!"
I didn't know why Ethan sounded so cheerful, but whatever.
The setting changed again into a room like a hospital ward. A girl sat inside, holding a tablet in her hands.
I moved closer—she was reading my novel, and in another window, she was chatting with someone called… Ethan070.
That username… my account name. But what was it doing there?
I leaned closer to read her username: Luna.
What the hell does this mean?
I looked at Ethan, but he said nothing, still smiling silently.
The girl was hooked up to medical monitors and IV lines. The sight was terrifying.
Suddenly, she began convulsing, then collapsed as the machines around her began shrieking with flatlined numbers.
She was dead.
Doctors rushed in at the sound of the alarms, trying everything—
Adrenaline injections. Defibrillators. Desperate attempts to drag her soul back from the tunnel of death.
Then the scene shifted again, this time into a beautiful, girlish bedroom.
Luna sat on her pink bed, staring at her hands, trembling.
She looked around the room in fear.
"No… don't tell me… did I die and end up here?"
I froze, watching her.
Luna was terrified—or rather, Luna from her previous life.
I didn't know if this was real or not, but if this being was showing it, then he wasn't lying about something so grave.
Luna checked her reflection in the mirror, then broke down crying.
"I wish this was just a dream… I don't want to live like this. I just want a normal life, not the role of some rich girl."
I stepped toward her, wanting to pat her head, but it was useless. I was the one to blame, the one who caused her to end up here.
If only… I hadn't written this novel.
I sank to my knees, arms hanging limply, head bowed low.
Ethan leaned down close to my face.
"How does it feel, writing a hell not only for yourself but for others? This is what's called a moral dilemma, Klo.
It's like committing a crime, but dragging innocents along with you."
As I sat there, the scenery changed again—this time into total darkness.
Hundreds of black eyes surrounded me, glaring, pressing closer and closer until they brushed against my skin.
They began tearing me apart, limb by limb. My arms ripped away. My body shredded piece by piece.
The pain was unbearable. My blood coated me like curtains in my despair.
I cried for help, for anyone to piece me back together.
No response.
I felt like I was in hell—but I wasn't.
Anyone… Elithia… Nevin… Lynette… Lumi… Luna…
---
I woke in a pile of snow, the whole world frozen around me.
This time, I didn't bother checking my body—it was drenched in blood, full of holes and scars. My limbs were back, at least.
I was in a snowy forest, like the one where I met Lumi.
I began walking aimlessly, not knowing where I was going.
From the distance, a girl approached. She had the same foxlike appearance Lumi and I shared—the snow fox form.
She was a little child, and suddenly, she grabbed my hand.
I looked at her and smiled.
"Are you lost?"
She didn't answer. But I reassured her anyway.
"Don't worry, we'll look for your parents together."
We kept walking, and then a boy joined us.
"You too, huh?"
Silence.
"Come on, follow us—we'll find what you're looking for."
We kept moving, and with every few steps, another child joined us.
Our group grew, until we reached thirty.
At the end of the path, we found a village of Lumi's kind.
The children rushed off to their tents. From behind one of them, a familiar girl appeared.
"Lumi."
She approached me, gratitude in her eyes.
"Thank you, Ethan."
The scene shattered into a gray mist, and suddenly, we were back in a room—the six of us together.
Each of them sat in their chair, surrounding me.
They smiled softly, warmly.
I lowered my head slowly, bracing myself for the harshest words.
But instead, they spoke in one voice:
"We love you, Klo."
I lifted my head, trembling, and saw their gentle smiles—as if nothing had ever happened to them because of me.
A system notice appeared in front of me:
[Important Notice]
"System updated to Version 2. Enjoy."
And with that message, everything changed.